The Hartford Public Library is moving forward with plans to fill a commercial dining space at its downtown location following the closure of its former restaurant tenant earlier this year.
The library issued a request for proposals in late August seeking a qualified operator for a café and restaurant at 500 Main St.
Recently, the library extended the deadline for proposals to Nov. 28 at 4 p.m. A final selection is expected by Dec. 17.
According to the RFP, the library seeks a “destination restaurant/café with a distinctive menu and dining experience” that will appeal to library customers, UConn Hartford campus students and faculty, downtown workers and visitors.
The restaurant also will provide catering services, including hosting library programs and classes for the public.
The opportunity comes after Berkins on Main, operated by husband-and-wife team Doug Barber and Andréa Hawkins, closed on May 28. They closed their other location, Berkins Blend Café in Glastonbury, on June 19.
The cafe announced on Facebook that the owners were retiring.
According to the RFP, the library’s first-floor restaurant space is 1,904 square feet, along with a 750-square-foot commercial kitchen on the second floor and an outdoor patio.
Utilities including electricity, heat, air conditioning and water will be included in the monthly lease, though employee parking will be the responsibility of the operator.
The space comes equipped with existing furniture and equipment, including espresso machines, refrigerated display cases, commercial-grade kitchen appliances, and seating for the indoor and outdoor dining areas.
The selected operator will be responsible for all improvements, maintenance, repairs of equipment and operating expenses associated with the café during the lease term.
The library says it hopes to lease to an operator that will collaborate with the library on its workforce development program designed for underemployed and unemployed members of the community.
Partner responsibilities include providing 10 to 14 hours of on-the-job training and job shadowing for trainees over a two-month period, supporting a minimum of 12 trainees per calendar year, and prioritizing hires from the library’s pool of ServSafe-certified individuals.
Proposals will be evaluated on a 100-point scale, with equal weight given to the proposed concept and the operator’s experience and financial strength.
Berkins on Main relocated to Hartford Public Library in December 2023 from its previous location at the Wadsworth Atheneum. The move was described at the time as a “strategic pivot” by the operators.
For more information about the RFP, visit www.hplct.org/about/rfp.